Openers, Shadab fire Sydney Thunder to first win of the season

Sydney Thunder claimed their first win of the season with a 34-run victory over the Brisbane Heat. Fifties from openers Sam Konstas and Matthew Gilkes laid the platform for a competitive 193/4 before a four-wicket haul from Shadab Khan helped restrict the Heat to 159/6.

Asked to bat first, the Thunder made a brisk start. Konstas and Gilkes brought up a fifty-run opening stand in the sixth over and raised the century partnership at the end of the tenth. Gilkes reached his fifty in the 11th over, with Konstas following suit off the very next delivery.

The Heat finally struck in the 14th over when Konstas holed out to deep mid-wicket off Jack Wildermuth. Sam Billings, who walked in next, raced to 25 off 11 balls before being dismissed at the start of the 17th over. Despite David Warner and Gilkes falling in quick succession, the Thunder pushed on to post 193/4.

In reply, Colin Munro began positively, but the Heat were dealt a big blow in the fifth over when Shadab Khan removed both openers. Matt Renshaw and Hugh Weibgen looked to steady the chase, but Shadab returned to dismiss Renshaw in the 13th over. The Heat slipped further when Daniel Sams accounted for Weibgen two overs later, before Shadab completed his four-wicket haul in the 16th. The target proved beyond reach despite late blows from Max Bryant and Jimmy Peirson.

Brief Scores: Sydney Thunder 193/4 in 20 overs (Matthew Gilkes 76, Sam Konstas 63; Jack Wildermuth 2-25) beat Brisbane Heat 159/6 in 20 overs (Matt Renshaw 43, Hugh Weibgen 30; Shadab Khan 4-24) by 34 runs.